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Sunday, September 9, 2012

Fitzroy Crossing to Broome + Fireworks

Up at 5:30am. The sun comes up early in this part of the world!

On the road by 7:30 with the promise of a hot day to come.
Ellendale rest area (90km west of Fitzroy) for morning coffee break.
A recently upgraded test area with an elevated position in an
otherwise flat and featureless landscape.

The local crested pigeons have worked out that when you operate
the water pump on the dunny, a small amount of water leaks from the
holding tank providing them with a drink! Who said pigeons were stupid?
Onwards we press. Past the turn off to Derby and stop at Willare
Roadhouse for fuel and liquid refreshment. We contemplate stopping
here for the day, but its only 10:30. So we agree to push on to
Broome, aiming at a rest area 60km further for an early lunch.
Temperature has now reached 36 degrees and there is lots of smoke
in the air. The fires that were reported yesterday burning around
Broome are obviously still active.
I somehow miss the agreed rest area and although the others stop,
they pause only to wet their 'T' shrts before chasing me down the
road. Eventually we meet at the Roebuck Roadhouse at the Broome turn
off. Bushfires are all around and the air is thick with smoke. We are
informed that they are thinking of closing the road again – just as
they had yesterday. Not wanting to wait out the fire front at the
Roadhouse, we speed on to Broome.
We seek refuge in an air-conditioned shopping centre near Broome
airport for lunch before heading for the caravan park at Cable Beach. As we are
checking in the locals tell us that it is the last day of the
Shinju Matsuri festival (Festival of the Pearl) , and that there will be music, dancing dragons, food and fireworks on the
beach tonight. Just for us!
Set up camp, have a swim, then head down to Cable Beach to join
the festivities. We have reached the Indian Ocean!

Super sunset courtesy of the bushfires, Laksa, ice cream and
fireworks to end the day. Nice one!